ASHLEY GILES believes the time is right for England to consider recalling Marcus Trescothick to help their young one-day side become more competitive in September's World Twenty20.

England's selectors have contacted Somerset left-hander Trescothick to discuss his inclusion in their 30-man squad for the inaugural tournament in South Africa, which has to be lodged with the International Cricket Council today.

If chosen in the squad it would be the first time 31-year-old Trescothick has been included in England's plans since withdrawing from the Ashes tour before the first Test with a recur-rence of his stress-related illness.

To some his selection would represent a major gamble with Trescothick having been forced home with his illness from his last two England tours to India and Australia.

But Giles, a long-time friend of Trescothick having played alongside him with England for five years, believes he should be an automatic choice - providing he has overcome his illness.

"If he is ready to return, which is the most important thing, then he has to be in our Twenty20 World Cup team," stressed Giles.

"He's the missing link really at the moment at the top of the order.

"He's not a pinch-hitter but we always get good starts with Tres at the top because he hits the ball cleanly, hits it through the field - he's a man made for one-day cricket really, but he has to be ready.

WI think it would be a good opportunity - if he felt he was getting close - to use it as a first step back into the England team. It will be a little more relaxed, it's not a very long trip so let's get him in.

"It's a game made for Marcus Trescothick. He is worth one of those spots in the 30-man squad even if the percentages were well against him going - if there's any chance he's got to be in there."

England's selectors have the luxury of naming Trescothick in their squad tomorrow and then have another month before they have to lodge their final 15-man squad with the ICC by August 11, during which time both parties can assess their options.

Giles, though, believes Trescothick's presence could help new captain Paul Collingwood immensely both as a player and as a trusted lieutenant to help him through the frenetic nature of Twenty20 cricket.

"He's a fantastic influence in the dressing room full stop," enthused Giles. "He's been a fantastic vice-captain for much of the time to Michael Vaughan, he's a brilliant slip fielder and just an all-round good egg.

"It's a terrible thing that he's been through. We've all hoped for cricketing reasons that he comes through it, but we also hope for his own personal reasons that he comes through it. The England side will certainly, I think, be a lot stronger to have his name on the list.

"Having someone like Tres in there would certainly give the side a bit more backbone, it would give Colly a lot more support and I should think it would add a few more runs as well."

While Trescothick is likely to be the most high-profile name in the squad, England are also expected to name a number of players who have excelled in the Twenty20 form of the game at domestic level in the 30.

Sussex's Luke Wright, the leading run-scorer during the group stages of this year's competition, is likely to be considered alongside other Twenty20 specialists like Lancashire's Mal Loye, Surrey's James Benning, Warwickshire's Darren Maddy and Mark Pettini of Essex.

Tim Ambrose, who has made a successful switch from Sussex to Warwickshire and was among the leading run-scorers during the group stages of the Twenty20 Cup, is also likely to be considered as the second wicketkeeper alongside Matt Prior.

Several players returning from injury will almost certainly be included with key all-rounders Andrew Flintoff and Ravi Bopara expected to be named in the squad.

But coach Peter Moores will also consider key members of his fledgling one-day international squad, many of whom have very little experience of Twenty20 cricket at any level.